'Service to the community is the mindset you bring to work every day'

What does service to the community mean to you?

For me, service is very personal. I grew up as the eldest daughter and granddaughter in a Samoan family, so looking out for other people, stepping in when something needed to be done, and helping carry responsibility was just part of life. That has shaped how I think about service to the community.

I think service is the thing that should underpin everything. It’s about being clear on who the work is ultimately for, and letting that shape how you lead, how you make decisions, and how you use whatever influence or position you have.

Sometimes that results in something big and visible, but often it is much quieter. It can be making a system easier to navigate, opening a door for someone, creating safety, or making sure people are not left to figure difficult things out on their own. For me, service to the community is less a single act and more the mindset you bring to work every day.

How does your work make a difference?

A lot of my work happens behind the scenes, and when it’s working well people may never see it. A risk is dealt with before it becomes a crisis, a process is fixed before it fails, a challenging relationship is repaired, or a leader has better information to make a decision. The visible result might be a programme delivered or a better outcome for a community, but there is usually a lot of quiet problem-solving, judgement and relationship-building underneath it that makes the outcome possible.

What achievements are you most proud of?

I am proudest when I can look back and see that I helped create something useful that lasted, made a system work better, opened up an opportunity for someone else, or left something stronger than I found it.

I’m particularly proud when my work has contributed to better outcomes for Pacific communities, whether through bringing Pacific perspectives, and voices into rooms where they are not always present, or helping make sure those perspectives are reflected in the decisions that follow.

What is your favourite part of the job?

Probably seeing people grow in their confidence and capability.

I have been very lucky in my career to have people who gave me their time, let me into rooms I probably would not otherwise have been in, trusted me with opportunities and encouraged me to keep asking questions. Being in a position now where I can do some of that for other people is one of the best parts of leadership for me.

What three words would you use to describe your work?

Purposeful, strategic and people-centred.

What advice would you give someone starting their career in the Public Service?

Stay curious, ask why, build relationships, and do not wait until you have a leadership title to start showing leadership.

I started my Public Service career as an Executive Assistant, which gave me an incredible grounding in how government works. From there, I moved into other areas because I asked a lot of questions, took an interest in work beyond my immediate role, built relationships, and said yes to opportunities before I necessarily felt completely ready for them. I’m very grateful to the many experienced public servants who always patiently took the time to answer my many questions!

I also think it helps to go into each role ready to learn, even if the role or area does not immediately feel like a natural fit. Some of the roles I was least sure about taught me the most. As your career develops, you start to understand more clearly what kind of work energises you and what you are good at. 

For me, I’ve realised I really enjoy short, reactive pieces of work, ambiguity and problem-solving under pressure, which I know would send some people’s blood pressure through the roof! Put me in front of a plan looking 25 years ahead, though, and I have to work much harder to stay focused. 

You learn those things about yourself as you go, and I think that is part of figuring out the kind of work you want to keep doing.

Lu Avia is a finalist of Te Tohu mō te Kaiārahi Rangatahi o te Tau | Young Leader of the Year Award at Te Hāpai Hapori | Spirit of Service Awards 2026.

The Young Leader of the Year Award celebrates inspirational young public sector leaders who demonstrate exceptional motivation and commitment to delivering for New Zealand and New Zealanders. Winners will be announced on Thursday 1 October.

The awards are made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors Deloitte, ANZSOG – The Australia and New Zealand School of Government and DXC Technology Australia and New Zealand.